Tag Archives: #shenipsitstriders

Connecticut Trail running, where it all began for me! I was born and raised in Connecticut and the trails there will always hold a special place in my heart. There are so many great trail races there with the most recent one that I have raced being the Traprock 50k. One of my most memorable CT races is the Nipmuck Trail Marathon!

Most of the Connecticut trail races are very low key with a great post race vibe. Plan on socializing after the race and most events offer great post race food! The Connecticut trail running scene is pretty awesome and very friendly!

Are there scary critters there? What is Connecticut trail running like?

Connecticut has bear, copperhead snakes, timber rattle snakes and ticks that can carry Lyme Disease. The snakes do frequent certain parts of the state and seem to prefer sunny ledges. I spent most of my life living in Connecticut and have seen plenty of large poisonous snakes but they have never been aggressive. I have also had Lyme disease twice and was fortunate to have full recoveries.

That tree at Case Mountain!

The trails are great! They are a nice mix of hills, rocks and roots! Connecticut does have fairly technical trails and most areas have traprock which can be very slippery when wet. There are a lot of hard wood forests which are pretty cool because you can see so far in the woods! The ridges in Connecticut offer wonderful views that seem to go on forever!

Connecticut has short winters and it makes for great trail running almost all year long! The winter can provide some fun snow running while early spring and late fall tend to be some of the nicest times to get out for a run! Summers are always nice too! Some of my favorite places to run are Case Mountain,Penwood state forest,Meshomasic and the Natchaug forest.

Is it expensive? Do campgrounds exist? What is the easiest way to get to CT.

Connecticut can be expensive but it does not have to be. There are many options for spending the night and there are some areas that allow camping although most are RV style campgrounds. You can easily find good food near any bigger town and the variety available is endless! Connecticut is crowded so don’t plan on having the place all to yourself but if you venture out far enough you will probably see fewer and fewer people.

I will shine again, and even brighter than before! 🙂

Connecticut is easy to reach if you live anywhere in New England. There are several major highways and various forms of transportation. Bradley International airport is very convienent and most airlines will fly into the airport. It is the easiest airport to get in and out of!

Are dogs allowed on the trails? What is the best way to find information on trails for Connecticut trail running?

Dogs are allowed on the trails but most places require them to be on a leash. You will need to check each individual area regarding rules on dogs. There are many multi-use trails with mountain bikers and horses so make sure your pups are used to them. Some areas have issues with Coyotes attacking dogs so you will want to either avoid those locations or keep your pup on a leash.

The internet has wonderful information on trails in CT. There is also a great book which has a guide to all the blue blazed trails in Connecticut. There are several running clubs within the state that you could reach out to as well! I used to belong to the Shenipsit Striders and they are very welcoming to everyone!

Case Mountain Trails!

I may be biased but I highly recommend visiting Connecticut for a trail run! Signing up for one of the many races is a fabulous way to explore new trails and meet some of the local runners! They are some of the best people I know and when you are racing in CT you will feel the energy that they exude! I have never done a race anywhere else where the other runners are so upbeat and excited to cheer you on whether you are in the front, middle or back of the pack.